Vehicle lifting apparatus



April 27, 1937. P. D. VAN BRUMMELEN VEHICLE LIFTING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor pmwawzwl. 7 W 5% Attorneys April 27, 1937. P. D. VAN BRUMMELEN A 2,073,819 A VEHI OLE LIFT ING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I /25 5 O o Z9 23* g 3/5" I Inventor Z Pieterfl Vazfirammekrz.

fizmmm A W mm I Attorneys A ril 27, 1937. P. D. VAN BRUMMELEN VEHICLE LIFTING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Attorneys Elsi Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 25,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus expressly designed for lifting and lowering motor vehicles, such as present day automobiles, the same being designed for use in association with a derrick or ship boomto expedite loading and unloading. l

It is a matter of common knowledge that under present day transportation systems, many automobiles are carried on boats and ships. Then, 11 too, it is well known that various kinds of riggings such as slings and derrick cradles are utilized for the purpose. With all due respect for those types of lifting and lowering devices ahead of me, I believe that I have perfected and herein disclose a novel and improved structure characterized by refinements and improvements such as render it more aptly fitted for the purposes intended.

. It follows, therefore, that the primary purpose of the present invention is to generally improve upon prior art and marketed structures of this general classification by providing one which is structurally distinct, dependable, sturdy, and susceptible of expeditious use in loading and unw; loading as well as connecting it to or releasing it from the car to be liftedor lowered as the case may be. i

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a horizontal frame to which the ship hoisting means (not shown) isconnected, said frame being provided at its corner portions with depending pendulousunits, and these units being provided at their lower ends with sectional stirrup-like clamps capable of satisfactorily cooperating with pneumatically tired automobiles.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

, In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the autolifting and lowering apparatus constructed in accordance with my ideas, showing, in a general way, how it is used.

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure seen in Figure 1. i Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of one end portion of the major part of the special accommodation frame means.

1936, Serial No. 92,641

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of one of the wheel grapples or grips.

The frame unit, which is self-leveling and normally disposed in a horizontal plane, is denoted by the numeral 1. It is here shown as composed of a pair of duplicate intersecting rods or bars 8 and 9 suitably secured together at their central portions as indicated at ID. This makes a sort of a cruciform frame structure, and it will be observed that the terminal ends of the bars are flattened, as indicated at H, and properly apertured to adjustably accommodate the special adapter fixtures or brackets l2. These are simply in the form of rectangular plates l3 bolted or otherwise connected adjustably as at l to the flattened ends ll. The upper end portions l5 of the plate are apertured to accommodate cables or the like It forming elements of the means unitarily indicated by the numeral ll. Incidentally, this means may be a part of the present structure or part of the hoist, derrick, or other handling means on the ship or boat (not shown). If desired, cross-rods l8 may be utilized, as indicated in Figure 2, to stabilize the frame structure. These are preferably joined by I-bolts I9 to the flattened ends ll. Thus, we have a substantially rectangular frame composed of properly braced. members and equipped so that it may be utilized with a conventional hoisting boom (not shown) or other rigging on the ship. The special adapter plates are formed with a series of openings 20, as shown in Figure 1, to accommodate the pendulous-like hanger or suspension units 2|. Inasmuch as each unit is the same in construction, a description of one will sufilce for all. It may be stated that there are four of these units disposed at the corner portions of the frame structure and designed to releasably engage the pneumatically tired wheels 22 of the conventional automobile. These devices 2! by being adjustable can be shifted to the desired position to accommodate varying length chassis.

Each suspension or hanger unit comprises a substantially perpendicular rod 23 having its upper end bifurcated with furcations straddling and pivotally attached as at 24 to the adapter plate l3. The lower end of the rod is headed as at 25 to hold the superposed accessories or equipment thereon. This equipment is primarily characterized by a double jaw grapple device somewhat like a stirrup to seat and properly accommodate the wheel of the automobile. The sections of this wheel clamping stirrup means are denoted by the numerals 25 and are of sheet metal or steel, and are provided with converging body portions 2? terminating in hinged knuckles 28 hingedly connected to the rod just above the terminal head 25. These sections 23 each include a cup-like receptacle 29, and in each receptacle is a segmental or arcuate plate 30 which is shown in Figure 3 and provides the proper contacting and feeding function. Thus, in a sense, the stirrup structure comprises a pair of clamping jaws hingedly connected to the rod and having especially designed seats or receptacles having quick operable association with the tire of the automobile or other vehicle to be lifted. As shown in Figure 4, the niuneral 3i designates a keeper eye for a latch or hook 32 suitably anchored in place as at 33. Consequently, the jaws are swung apart first, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and then swung back together in gripping contact with the tire of the wheel. Then the hook or latch 32 is snapped into place to provide the desired wheel clamping result.

The numerals 34 designate brace rods or stays, these being connected at their lower ends with the clamping jaws. At the upper ends the rods are connected with wing-like members 35 having hinged knuckles 36 hingedly connected with the rod 23. A spacing tube or sleeve 31 surrounds the rod between the hinged wings 35 and the underlying wheel clamping jaws 26.

Broadly, then, the structure comprises a selfleveling frame constructed for connection to a ship boom or equivalent hoist, this frame being provided with four depending pendulous-like suspension or hanger units. The units in turn are provided at their lower ends with quick releasable and attachable wheel grapple devices whereby it is possible to attach said devices to the automobile while sitting on the platform or the deck of a ship, as the case may be. Then it can be swung by the derrick out over the side of the ship and lowered or elevated in an obvious manner.

It is submitted that an apparatus of this type is aptly fitted for lifting and lowering present day automobiles and is especially suitable for use in connection with transportation ships and boats. Since many of the passengers of the boat carry automobiles with them on trips, it is evident that there is an outstanding need for a successful rig or similar structure such as may be expeditiously utilized to facilitate automobile loading and unloading. It is believed that the present invention fulfills the need and is sufficiently simple and reliable to justify its endorsement by the trade in general.

Novelty is thought to reside in particular in the pendulous-like suspension or hanger units 2| carried by the self-leveling frame structure and properly located for co-operation with the wheels of the present day automobile, wherein said devices are equipped with hinged wheel grips fashioned to provide the desired stirrup or cradle for the wheels.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. As a component part of a structure of the class described, a suspension member comprising a rod, a pair of wheel gripping jaws hingedly connected to the lower end of the rod, latch means for holding the jaws in gripping relationship, a spacing sleeve surrounding the rod above the jaws, a pair of wing-like members hingedly connected to the rod above said spacing sleeve, and stay rods connected with the wing-like members and said jaws, as shown and described.

2. In a vehicle lifting and lowering apparatus of the class described, a horizontally disposable self-leveling frame unit comprising a pair of interconnected rod members arranged in intersecting cruciform relationship, said rod members having their outer free end portions flattened, disposed in parallelism and longitudinally apertured, transverse crossrods connected with said flattened ends to maintain the rod members rigidly assembled, adapter plates adjustably secured to the flattened ends of said rod members, the upper end portions of the plates being designed to accommodate hoisting and lowering cables, the lower end portions of the plates being apertured, suspension units adjustably connected with the lower apertured portions of said plates, said suspension units being of pendulous construction and including quick adjustable and releasable wheel engaging jaw devices.

- per ends of the rods to the intermediate portion of said suspension rod in the manner and. for the purposes described.

PIETER D. VAN BRUMMELEN. 

